Osteospermum plant named ‘Osjaseclipur’

ABSTRACT

A new  Osteospermum  plant particularly distinguished by its compact round plant habit, early flowering with light purple colored, spatulate shaped, ray florets.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Osteospermumecklonis.

Varietal denomination: ‘Osjaseclipur’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofOsteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis.

The new Osteospermum is propagated by cuttings resulting from an openpollinated population from a proprietary Osteospermum ecklonis seedlingselection as the female, or seed, parent identified as breeder's code‘C0254-3’ (unpatented). Breeder's code of new plant is ‘D0209-3.’

The new Osteospermum was discovered and selected as a single floweringplant within the progeny of the stated population grown in Enkhuizen,Netherlands, in 1999. The new Osteospermum plant has been repeatedlyasexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands over a periodof 6 years. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristicsthrough successive propagations, and this novelty appears to be firmlyfixed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plantin full color, the color shown being as true as can be reasonablyobtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of this new Osteospermum plant. The data which definesthese characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carriedout in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 25 weeksold plants. The instant plant was grown indoors in a 10.5 cm containerand transplanted into the open field in week 20.

Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London, edition 2001.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW CULTIVAR ‘OSJASECLIPUR’ AND TWOSIMILAR CULTIVARS ‘Osdapur’ U.S. Plant Patent application Ser. No.‘Nasinga ‘Osjaseclipur’ 11/435,331 Purple’ Plant height 24-26 cm 20-24cm 40-45 cm Plant width 35-40 cm 30-38 cm 66-70 cm Flower shapeSpatulate Spatulate Spatulate Flowering Early Early Late response Flowersize 5-5.5 cm 6 cm 5.5 cm Flower color Light Purple Dark Purple LightPurple

-   The Plant:    -   -   Classification.—Botanical: Osteospermum ecklonis.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary seedling selection ‘C0254-3.’        -   Male parent.—Female is open pollinated so male is unknown.-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Round, wide.        -   Plant height.—24-26 cm.        -   Speading area of plant.—35-40 cm.        -   Strength.—Moderate growth.        -   Branching character.—Freely branching, 18 lateral branches            without pinching.        -   Blooming period.—From May until October.-   The stem:    -   -   Length.—20 cm.        -   Diameter.—2-3 mm.        -   Internode length.—15 mm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—RHS 144B.-   The foliage:    -   -   Shape.—Single leaves, alternate and elliptic, apex: broadly            acute. Base: attenuate, margin; irregular serration.        -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—50.        -   Texture.—Glabrous, leathery, soft haris.        -   Leaf.—Color — Upper side: RHS 137B. Color — Under side: RHS            137C. Length: Young 20-25 mm, mature 40-45 mm. Width: Young            6 mm, mature 14-17 mm.        -   Petiole.—Absent.-   The inflorescence:    -   -   Number of inflorescences per mature plant.—85.        -   Inflorescence bud.—Form: Ovoid. Length: 12-15 mm. Width:            7-9 mm. Color: RHS 79D.        -   Inflorescence lastingness on the plant.—Around 5 days            depending on the temperature.        -   Inflorescence.—Diameter: 50-55 mm. Disc diameter: 10 mm.        -   Inflorescence depth.—13 mm.        -   Fragrance.—No frangrance.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular, elongated. Apex: Five pointed.            Length: 6 mm. Width: 1 mm. Number of disc florets per            inflorescence: 55. Color: RHS 92A.        -   Ray florets.—Length: 23-26 mm. Width: Apex 4 cm, middle 2            cm, base 4 cm. Shape: Capitulum with one series of ray            florets; spatulate. Color — Upper surface: RHS 72D. Middle            surface: RHS 84C. Lower surface: RHS N77B. Number of ray            florets: 18-20. Shape Apex: Rounded. Base: Acute. Margin:            Entire. Texture: Satiny.        -   Peduncles.—Length: 5-6.5 cm. Texture: Sturdy, tiny hairs.            Color: RHS 148A. Diameter: 2 mm. Shape: Round.        -   Phyllaries.—Texture: Rough, tiny hairs. Number of            phyllaries: 20. Color: RHS 144B. Length: 10 mm. Margin:            Entire. Width: 1.5 mm. Apex: Acute. Shape: Ligulate. Color:            RHS 137C both sides.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Appearance: Present on disc florets only. Shape:            Oblong, five stamens fused to one. Length: 2 mm. Width:            1 mm. Pollen color: RHS 24B. Total no. of anthers: 50.        -   Gynoecium.—Appearance: Present on both ray and disc florets.            Pistil number: One pistil per ray or disc floret. Pistil            length: 4 mm. Stigma color: RHS 77A. Stigma shape:            Bipartite.-   Seed development: Seed development has been observed on plants of    the new Osteospermum.    -   -   Amount of seeds produced.—Moderate.        -   Seed length.—6 mm.        -   Diameter.—3 mm.        -   Color.—RHS 200A.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.-   Disease resistance: Under commercial conditions, plants of the new    Osteospermum are resistant to fungal pathogens common to    Osteospermum.

1. A new and distinct variety of Osteospermum plant, substantially asillustrated and described herein.